Nestor Miranda Special Selection Danno 2012

Almost two years ago Miami Cigar & Co. debuted the Nestor Miranda Special Selection Danno 2012 at the IPCPR tradeshow. The first release was a commemorative cigar for Miami Cigar & Co.’s 20th Anniversary, but also as a tribute to Nestor Miranda’s late son Daniel Miranda, who was the vice-president and director of marketing for Miami Cigar & Co. and passed away in 2008.

The 2012 version marked the third year of the Danno cigar, though it was the fifth blend that had been made available.

A few months after the cigar was released I got the chance to review the cigar and it still remains one of the few boxes of cigars I’ve immediately wanted and been able to purchase right after doing a review on it. In the last year and a half I’ve smoked through the majority of the box, so before it was completely gone I figured I’d share my thoughts with you on how the cigar has changed.

Cigar Reviewed: Nestor Miranda Special Selection Danno 2012

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras & Nicaragua

Size: 7 Inches

Ring Gauge: 56

Vitola: Double Corona

MSRP: $10.00 (Boxes of 20, $200.00)

Date Released: August 3, 2012

Number of Cigars Released: 1,500 Boxes of 20 Cigars (30,000 Total Cigars)

Number of Cigars Smoked for Redux: 2

Not much has changed in the appearance or feel of the Danno 2012. The wrapper might be a touch less oily, but overall it is still smooth and slightly oily when I run my fingers over it. The pigtail cap is still in tact despite having the box jostled around my humidor for 18 months, cushioned by the loose tobacco that surrounded the cigars in the box. The aroma off the wrapper is a lighter barnyard note while the cold draw still has a decent amount of flavor, producing notes of light chocolate, cinnamon and hay.

Lighting up the cigar, I can tell that the flavors are a little more on the muted side of things. Notes of chocolate and chocolate are there, with a slight nuttiness and the slightest sweetness are still noticeable in the profile, though not in the same force that I remember originally. Completely absent is the black pepper note that was prominent in the beginning of the cigar before. Another major thing that seems to be different in the profile is the creaminess that before so nicely complimented the sweet notes that made the Danno 2012 so delectable. Happily the second half of the cigar is a little more enjoyable, with the flavors still being quite mellow though overall it’s slightly more sweet and perhaps a bit smoother. The cigar ends nicely enough, without getting harsh or bitter, which would have completely overpowered the mild profile.

Overall the construction of the cigar is much the same. The burn is not bad for the most part, though there were a few touch ups here and there that were needed. The draw is still fantastic and the ash solid, only dropping off after an inch and some coaxing on my part. Smoke production is plentiful on the draw, though it mellows out quickly after being set down. The cigar is still medium strength without really showing it until the final third.

Nestor Miranda Special Selection Danno 2012

Brian Burt

May 12, 2014

86/10

Having smoked one of these every other month or so, I've had a very unique perspective on how it slowly changed. There was no sudden difference or major profile shift at any given point, but at some point earlier this year I noticed that the Danno 2012 just wasn't as flavorful and enjoyable as it used to be. It isn't a bad cigar by any means and I still enjoy it when I’m looking for a long relaxing cigar experience, but it definitely is not the cigar that I reviewed at the end of 2012. Some cigars are meant to be smoked immediately while others develop nicely and evolve with age. The Danno 2012 is one of the former, so my suggestion would be to enjoy these now if you still have them.

86Overall Score

Having smoked one of these every other month or so, I've had a very unique perspective on how it slowly changed. There was no sudden difference or major profile shift at any given point, but at some point earlier this year I noticed that the Danno 2012 just wasn't as flavorful and enjoyable as it used to be. It isn't a bad cigar by any means and I still enjoy it when I’m looking for a long relaxing cigar experience, but it definitely is not the cigar that I reviewed at the end of 2012. Some cigars are meant to be smoked immediately while others develop nicely and evolve with age. The Danno 2012 is one of the former, so my suggestion would be to enjoy these now if you still have them.

I have been smoking cigars since 2005 and reviewing them as a hobby since 2010. Initially I started out small with a 50-count humidor and only smoking one or two cigars a month. Not knowing anybody else that smoked cigars, it was only an occasional hobby that I took part in. In March of 2010 I joined Nublive and Cigar Asylum, connecting me with many people who also shared an interest in cigars. Reading what they had to say about brands I had never heard of, I quickly immersed myself in the boutique brands of the industry and it was then that cigars transformed from a hobby into a passion. Besides my cigar hobby and job in the IT industry, my wife and I love traveling, trying new restaurants and relaxing at home with our two dogs.